That 32-29 loss to the 49ers, as painful as it was, came against a San Francisco defense that had its best performance of the season. After shutting down our Seahawks, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan wasn’t shy about praising his defensive coordinator, Raheem Morris, calling him “unbelievable” in his Monday conference call. We saw that firsthand at Lumen Field, and it was a tough pill to swallow.
What We Ran Into That Day
Let’s be real, that 49ers defense played out of its mind against our guys. They didn’t just win, they *dominated* defensively. San Francisco forced four turnovers, sacked Sam Darnold five times, and restricted Seattle to a brutal 30 percent success rate. Every single part of their defense was clicking. Their front consistently won against both the run and the pass, the linebacker play was excellent, and their secondary absolutely thrived in coverage. They did this, by the way, against a Seahawks receiving group that was “light on difference-makers outside of the not fully healthy Jaxon Smith-Njigba.” It was a clinic, and frankly, it hurt to watch. Cornerback Renardo Green even snagged two of his three career-high three interceptions this season right here in Seattle.
The Morris Effect Is Real
Shanahan made it clear that Morris is the guy behind this defensive turnaround. He said, “It doesn’t surprise me with Raheem. I’ve been around him for too long. He’s one of the best people and best coaches I’ve ever been around.” Shanahan even tried to get him when he left Atlanta, but they wouldn’t let him go. So, this has been a long time coming for the 49ers. Morris has done an “unbelievable job this year,” mixing things up schematically, even with injuries. Shanahan specifically “loved the confidence he’s given our DBs and the way they’ve been playing since training camp.” With Morris’s extensive background coaching defensive backs, those hopes for a transformative influence on their secondary have definitely been realized. Through five games, the 49ers defense is now third in the NFL by Expected Points Added per play and eighth in the NFL by success rate. That’s a massive leap after what was described as a below-par year in 2025.
Morris has clearly got that 49ers defense playing at another level through five games, and that performance against our Seahawks was a prime example. While it’s tough to admit when a rival is on fire, it’s the reality after seeing how they forced four turnovers and sacked Sam Darnold five times. It shows the kind of intense competition our guys are up against this season. We know what Jaxon Smith-Njigba can do when healthy, but that was a brutal defensive display. Every week is a battle, and performances like that from a rival just underline how much our Seahawks will need to elevate their game moving forward.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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